Size: 36–38 cm in length with a wing-span of 70–80 cm; males weigh around 890 g and females 750 g.

Vocalisations: It is a noisy bird with a wide repertoire of crackling, explosive, or trumpeting calls, often given at night.

Habitat: freshwater lakes and ponds.

Behaviour: The nest is a bulky structure that either floats on the water or is built in shallow water on a low or barely submerged stump or log, making a neat, large bowl. It is built by both sexes with the male collecting most of the material which is incorporated by the female. The coot is an omnivore, and will take a variety of small live prey including the eggs of other water birds, as well as algae, vegetation, seeds and fruit. Some birds winter in Latvia – their number depends on the severity of winter. In total in Latvia there are 8,000-10,000 couples.

Interesting facts: The coot is a very reliable bird. However, when danger approaches, it reacts quickly. It dives to the bottom and, at a depth of 3 to 4 metres, attaches its bill to algae or driftwood. When the danger has passed, it pops out. Coots can be very brutal to their own young under pressure such as the lack of food. They will bite young that are begging for food and repeatedly do this until it stops begging. If the begging continues, they may bite so hard that the chick is killed. Coots will also lay their eggs in the nests of other coots when their environment or physical condition limits their ability to breed, or to lengthen their reproductive life.

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